Introduction Driven by personal interest in biochemistry and immunology I had the choice to participate in the design of the […]
Introduction
Driven by personal interest in biochemistry and immunology I had the choice to participate in the design of the PhD project at the department of physiological chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, Sweden. The University of Lund granted me fully sponsored scholarship for PhD degree in Medical Biochemistry. After thorough search in the literature and discussions with my supervisor it was decided that the project would be “characterization of the human growth hormone receptor using monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies”.
The first two projects in the list below were executed during my PhD studies. The rest of the projects, mainly focused on malaria therapeutics, susceptibility to malaria infection and immunopathology of falciparum malaria, constitute my ongoing activities from 1992 until now.
1 Immunoglobulin-binding bacterial proteins (protein G and protein L) as detectors of specific antibody response. This project was carried out to establish and optimize a sensitive and highly specific screening method for monoclonal antibodies generated against growth hormone receptor. This project was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (project no. 7144 and 7480), Kung Gustav V:s 80ars Foundation, the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, the Swedish Medical Association, the Foundation of Osterlund, Johansson and Koch, High Tech Receptor. AB, Malmo, Sweden, and the National Swedish Board for Technical Development.
2 Production and Characterization of monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies to the pituitary growth hormone receptor. This project was Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research council (grant no. B-88-13X-0828-01A), the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, Kabi Vitrum AB, the Swedish Medical Society, the Foundation of Magnus Bergvall, the Foundation of Lars Hierta and the foundation of Albert Pahlsson.
3 Acute phase proteins and susceptibility to malaria infection with special emphasis on haptoglobin. We have been able to show association between haptoglobin phenotype (1-1) and susceptibility to falciparum malaria. Through this project and under my supervision both Amel Osman Kheider and Huziefa Mohammed Elhassan obtained MSc degrees and Dr. Atif Elagib obtained a PhD degree. The project received partial support from UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).
4 Antimalarial drugs efficacy and resistance. Antimalarial drug failure is widely reported in malaria endemic areas. This project has been going on under my supervision in eastern Sudan in collaboration with New Halfa and Gadarif hospitals. It involved three of my PhD students, one finished and two about to finish. It received partial support from EMRO/WHO and from DAAD.
5 Epidemiology of malaria during pregnancy in an area of seasonal and unstable malaria transmission in New Halfa, Eastern Sudan. It was initiated by me in collaboration with Dr. Ishag Adam, Gynecologist, New Halfa hospital and involved my PhD students Ishraga Eltayeb and Maha Elhadi. It received partial support from EMRO/WHO.
6 I was the principle Investigator of a project entitled “Description of the clinical features and immunopathology of severe Malaria in area of unstable malaria transmission in Sudan”. It was a three year collaborative project supported by the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria in Africa, Tropical Disease Research, World Health Organization (MIM/TDR/WHO). It was supported by a total of $ 185000 US Dollars. The study was performed in Gadarif and New Halfa, Eastern Sudan, Oct 2000 -Oct 2003. Three graduate students at the Department of Biochemistry (teaching assistants) one PhD student from El-Imam Elmahadi University, one student from Juba University, one student from Africa International University were involved in this project as part of their PhD programme under my supervision. Several publications have been produced from this project.
Supervision of Postgraduate Students:
First supervisor of the following theses passed in partial fulfillment of Master degree in Medical Biochemistry:
1 Assessment of the renal function of children with severe falciparum malaria in Khartoum, by Dr. Gamila Ibrahim Ahmed, 1996.
2 Assessment of different urinary Iodine determination methods in Sudanese: a comparative study, by Manal Abdel Rahman Musa, 1996.
3 The antibacterial effect of Negalla Sativum, by Intesar Elnour, 1996.
4 Standardization of ELISA method in serodiagnosis of Schistosoma Mansoni using IgG and SEA antigen, by Dr. Amira Gaafar Saad, 1997
5 IgG antibody in the serodiagnosis of Schistosoma manasoni, by Dr. Nagla ‘a Abdelbasit, 1997.
6 Effects of a monophasic contraceptive containing 30 µg ethinyl estradiol and 150 µg desogestrel on lipid metabolism in Sudanese women, by Maha Elhadi Osman, 1997.
7 Haptoglobin subtypes in Sudanese patients with acute malaria, by Amel Osman Khider, 1998.
8 Assessment of serum immunoglobulin A level in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AID) in Sudanese patients, by Nadra Elyas Elamin, 1998.
9 Isotypic characterization of specific malaria IgG antibodies against MSP1 antigen, by Sharifa Hussein Mohammed, 1998.
10 Effect of a monophasic oral contraceptive containing 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel on serum proteins in Sudanese women, by Afaf Siddig Hamad 1998
11 Association of haptoglobin phenotype (1-1) with susceptibility to falciparum malaria in Daraweesh, Gadarif, Eastern Sudan, Dr. Huzeifa Mohammed Elhassan, 1998.
12 Prevalence of antibodies against merozoite surface antigens of Plasmodium falciparum in Khartoum area, by Thoraya Mohamed Elhassan, 2000.
13 Human antibody responses against Rhoptry associated protein 1 (RAP1) of Plasmodium falciparum in Khartoum area, by Omar eltayeb Fadl Elseed, 2002.
14 Changes in blood glucose level and lactic acid in children with severe malaria, by Aisha Ibrahim Ahmed, 2003.
B. MD and PhD theses:
1 Co-supervisor of MD dissertation passed in Jan. 1996.Title: The effect of oral contraception on lipid metabolism using Marvelon in Sudanese women, by Dr. Ali Mohamed Hamadain. He is now Consultant Gynecologist, Faculty of Medicine Imam Mahadi University, Kosti.
2 Co-supervisor of MD thesis passed in Nov 1999, with the title: Correlation of antibody response to merosiote surface protein 1 and 2 and clinical presentation of malaria in Sudanese children. By Dr. Abd Allah khamis.
3 First supervisor of a PhD thesis passed in Dec. 1997, with the title: The impact of urinary Schistosomasis and praziquantel treatment on the nutritional status of Sudanese school children: a double blind placebo controlled study; By Yahia Ahmed Raja’a. He is now lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sanaa, Yemen.
4 First supervisor of PhD thesis passed in September 1999, with the title: Susceptibility to falciparum malaria is associated with haptoglobin phenotypes in Sudan. By Atif Elagib. He is now assistant professor at Tropical Medical Research Institute, Khartoum.
5 First supervisor of PhD thesis passed in November 2002 with the title: Role of trace elements deficiency and HLA types in the etiology of thyroid disorders in Central Sudan; by Mohamed Maysara Elsarag. He is now assistant professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bahr Elgazal.
6 First supervisor of PhD thesis passed in June 2003 with the title: Humoral immune response to P. falciparum antigens in population living in seasonal and unstable malaria transmission area in Eastern Sudan; by Dr. Gamila Ibrahim Ahmed. She is now assistant professor at the Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Khartoum.
7 First supervisor of Dr. Maha Ismail for PhD (Scholar from Ahfad University) passed in 2006
8 First supervisor of Ishraga Eltayeb A/Elbasit for PhD (Scholar from El-Imam Elmahadi University). Her proposal is entitled: Molecular characterization of severe falciparum malaria parasites in areas of low and unstable transmission in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan passed in 2006.
9 First supervisor of Thoraya Mohamed Elhassan for PhD. Her proposal is entitled: Antibody response against conserved and polymorphic antigens of Plasmodium falciparum in severe malaria in an area of low and unstable transmission in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan passed in 2006.
10 First supervisor of Maha Elhadi Osman for PhD (Scholar from National Health Laboratory). Her proposal is entitled: Characterization of molecular basis for malaria parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs in Gadarif, Eastern Sudan, passed in July 2007.
11 First supervisor of Nadra Elyas Elamin for PhD (Scholar from Aali Elneil University). Her proposal is entitled: HLA class I and class II typing in HIV/AIDS Sudanese patients in Khartoum Teaching Hospital, passed in dec2006.
12 First supervisor of Atif Hassan Keirelseid for PhD (Scholar Africa International University). His project is entitled: Fc gamma RIIa (CD32) polymorphism and IgG subclass profile among Sudanese patients with severe malaria (in thesis writting).
13 Co-supervisor of Dr. Hassan Ali Sheibani for MD in Pediatrics (Scholar from University of Sanaa, Yemen). The title of the project is: Clinical pattern of malaria in children in Hajjah Province, Yemen, passed in 2006.
Contribution to relevant institutions and to the profession:
1 Teaching Medical Biochemistry, as part-time teacher, to undergraduate medical students at Universities of Juba, Bahr Elghazal, Shendi, Kassala, Kordofan, Nilein, Dungula and Academy of Medical Science and Technology, since 1993.
2 External examiner on several occasions for 2nd MBBS at the faculty of medicine of Juba, Shendi, Kasala, Omdurman Elislamia, Bahr Elghzal, Nilein and Kordofan since 1992.
3 External examiner for a PhD thesis at the University of Gazera, entitled “genetic susceptibility of children to cerebral malaria in central Sudan”, by Dr. Adil Mergani, June 2004.
4 Member of committees for design of curricula for the faculties of medicine at the universities of Kordofan, Nilein, Gadarif, Rabat, and Dungula since 1996.
5 Visiting lecturer of Biochemistry for three months at the University of Science and Technology, Sanna, Yemen, 1997.
6 Vice president of Sudanese Red Crescent Society June 1998- June 2000
7 President of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society June 2000-Oct 2002. I represented the society in many national, regional and international conferences.
8 Vice president of the Health Commission of International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRCS), Geneva, Switzerland, 2001 – 2002. I participated in the development of the health plan for the federation which was mainly directed towards control of major diseases in the third world, HIV/AID, malaria, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases.
9 Member of Health Task Force for East Africa Region, affiliated to the Regional Office of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Nairobi, Kenya 2001 – 2002. I participated in the design of health plan adopted by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the region which was mainly focused on HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
10 Member of the steering committee of the Malaria Immunology and Pathogenesis Consortium in Africa (MIMPAC), 2000 until now. It is a network of African scientists sharing a common interest in capacity building and research focused on malaria immunology and pathogenesis in Africa with the goal to increase awareness and support of research in immunology and pathology of malaria and to promote the utilization of its research finding.
11 Member of the African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET), 2002 until now. It is an African malaria network based in Daresalam, Tanzania. It has been able to mount several short-term training workshops in order to build capacity essential for evaluating malaria vaccine candidates meeting international quality standards. It organized workshops in health research ethics, good clinical practice, data management, in intervention trials, molecular biology and immunology……It receives support from many international donor organizations (www.amanet-trust.org).
